Wrist watch protector



June 21, 1955 J. R. KELLY WRIST WATCH PROTECTOR Filed May 17, 1954 James A? Ke//,v

INVENTOR ATTORNEY United rates Patent WRIST WATCH PROTECTOR James R. Kelly, Dallas, Tex.

Application May 17, 1954, Serial No. 430,029

3 Claims. ((11. 58-105) This invention relates to wrist watch protectors and more particularly to attachments for wrist watches to prevent transfer of moisture into the watch from the wrist of the wearer.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a backing plate adapted to be interposed between a watch and the wrist of the wearer which is equipped with a simple latching means enabling the plate to be held against displacement on the back of wrist watches of diiferent sizes and eifective to preclude entrance into the watch mechanism of perspiration which tends to impair the function of the watch and further, to protect the finish on the back of the watch against deteriorating elfects of perspiration.

Another object of the invention is to provide an attachment of the character set forth which is highly eifective for the purpose intended, yet inexpensive and easily and quickly applied for use.

Other objects will appear as the description proceeds when considered with the annexed drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a rear perspective view of the invention shown applied to a wristwatch illustrated in dotted lines.

Figure 2 is a top perspective view of the invention per Figure 3 is a side elevational View.

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 3, and

Figure 5 is an end view of a wrist watch with the wrist band pin removed to show the relationship of the invention with the watch.

Continuing with a more detailed description of the drawing, reference numeral denotes generally a wrist watch of any conventional design or manufacture, shown with its wrist band 11 in dotted lines for the purpose of illustrating the manner of attachment to a wrist watch.

The invention is comprised of a substantially thin flat plate 12 which may be made of any suitable material but preferably of plastic and which is of greater length than width. It is preferred that recesses 13 be formed at each corner of the plate 12 to accommodate spring clips 14. These clips are each formed from a length of spring steel wire, such as piano wire, the confronting ends 15 of each wire being anchored in the portions 16 of the plate 12 intermediate the recesses 13 at each end of the plate as the latter is being formed in a plastic mold in a conventional manner. The intermediate portion 17 of the wire lies parallel with the end portions 15 thereof and substantially rectangular loops 18 are formed therein to be disposed in a plane perpendicular to the plate 12 but slightly inclined outwardly in the manner shown best in Figure 4.

The rectangular loops 18 constitute the clips 14 previously referred to of which there is a pair at each end of the plate 12. Each pair of clips is received in the space 19 between the ends of the strap or band 11 and the ends of the watch 10. The outer leg of the loop 18 of each pair of loops engages the ears 20 which usually form the mounting for a transverse pin 21 to which the ends of the band or straps 11 are secured in conventional practice. The outer legs of the clips spring inwardly to a slight degree, supported or reinforced by the inner legs 18a of the clips and by virtue of the slight incline of the clips, the latter are held quite firmly in the said space 19 to hold the plate 12 flush against the back of the watch 10.

The plate 12 may be formed from variously colored plastic, as desired and in one edge thereof there is provided a recess 22 to accommodate the winding crown of watches of narrower width than that shown in dotted lines in Figure 1. The wire from which the clips 14 are formed may be plated to match the finish of the watch case to which the protector plate is attached.

It is clearly apparent that the clips 14 may be formed by means other than wire provided the material employed and the shape into which it is formed affords sufficient resiliency and holding action as to prevent lateral, longitudinal and perpendicular displacement of the plate 12 with respect to the watch. When the plate is properly positioned, as described, in relation to the back of the watch, perspiration is prevented thereby from contacting the watch case and entering the mechanism of the watch.

Manifestly, the construction as shown and described is capable of some modification and such modification as may be construed to fall within the scope and meaning of the appended claims is also considered to be within the spirit and intent of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a wrist watch having a wrist band, a protector for said watch comprising a thin flat plate substantially equal in length to the length of the watch, attaching means for said plate comprising a length of spring steel wire formed intermediate its ends to define spaced apart, substantially rectangular loops, the portions of said wire intermediate said loops being attached transversely to said plate adjacent an end thereof to dispose said loops in a plane substantially perpendicular to said plate but inclined toward adjacent edges of said plate, said loops being yieldably receivable in the transverse space between the ends of said watch and the ends of said band at their points of connection to said watch to hold said plate flush against the back of said watch.

2. In combination with a wrist watch and wrist band, a perspiration repelling means comprising a substantially thin plate of non-porous material equal in length to the length of said watch, a pair of substantially rectangular loops of spring steel wire defining transversely spaced clips perpendicular to said plate adjacent each end thereof, the outer leg of each of said clips being inclined toward an adjacent edge of said plate, said clips being adapted for frictional engagement between the points of connection of the ends of said band to the ends of said watch and means for anchoring said clips to said plate.

3. In combination with a wrist watch and a band connected at its ends to the ends of said watch, a perspiration repelling means comprising a plate attached to the back of said watch, the attaching means comprising a pair of laterally spaced clips of resilient material at each end of said plate, being formed of resilient steel Wire embedded in the material of said plate at each end thereof and shaped to form substantially rectangular loops, one on each side of the longitudinal axis of said plate and inclined toward the sides of said plate for frictional reception between each end of said watch and the connection therewith of an end of said band.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,367,091 Bloth Jan. 9, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS 101,164 Great Britain Aug. 24, 1916 811,088 France Jan. 14, 1937 

